Movie Review: New Moon is a miss
By Megan Carroll
New Moon, the newest film installment of the Twilight series, was difficult to love.
For days now I have been pondering whether I liked this film or not. It is like one of those Law & Order episodes where you are left with both sides equally argued and a sinking feeling of still being unsure or undecided. By the end of this film, I was a fish out of water.
Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward’s (Robert Pattinson) love intensifies along with the dangers that surround Bella. By forcing herself deeper into the Cullen’s’ world, she ends up losing what is most important to her. Bella finds herself alone and forced to start a new life and new relationships, but she finds out that there are other surprises in store within these new affairs. As the secrets unfold and Bella learns the truth, she finds herself in a race against the clock to save her family, herself and most importantly, Edward.
The film really tried to be true to the book and it almost succeeded. I am not sure if it was the script or the acting, but the film was missing a certain “something”. One scene that does stand out in its need for greater depth and emotion is when Edward leaves Bella. Stewart’s inability to portray complex life experiences shines through during this scene. The viewer gets the feeling that Stewart has never really lost anyone in real life or, if she has, the emotion of that just never sank in. Unfortunately, this pivotal scene was lost and in turn failed the audience miserably.
The series of four Twilight books is an addictive love story. That lack of true obsession, true wanting and carnal hunger are missing. Bella and Edward are supposed to be each other’s everything, but the actors leave you feeling absent inside. I am not sure if that lack of true emotion was left out of the script or if the actors failed in an accurate portrayal of their characters. I will leave that up to you, but I felt let down, though at the same time I did enjoy certain aspects of the film.
The storyline is excellent, but a lot was lost on those that didn’t read the book. Many might even feel bored at times. The film was visually beautiful, with stunning landscapes and picturesque meadows. The coloring was muted, but bright when needed and the supporting cast was excellent. At times I wanted to see more of the scenery than I did Edward and Bella. Dakota Fanning, who played the malevolent Jane, was brilliant, and Jackson Rathbone, who plays Jasper Whitlock, stole the few scenes he was in. As a fan of the books, I know we will see more of them, which is definitely exciting.
I flopped back and forth like a fish out of water with this film, which is not an all together pleasant feeling, but if it was a hit-or-miss decision, I’d say this film is a miss.
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